Addressing the Common Meeting with a listing of precedence areas for motion, António Guterres underscored that the UN was based on the pursuit of peace.
“Peace is our raison d’être. But, as I scan the panorama of at present’s world, the one factor lacking most dramatically is peace,” he mentioned.
From the battle in Gaza to the battle on the setting and in combating poisonous disinformation and hate speech to forging sustainable, inclusive practices, peace is the thread that weaves by way of the world’s widespread material, he emphasised.
“Peace is the best way out of those interlinked crises; it’s a rally cry…and a name to motion,” he added, outlining a path ahead to satisfy shared objectives that, regardless of the turbulent instances, presents causes for hope.
Answering folks’s calls, from Gaza to Ukraine
The UN Chief highlighted that civilians bear the brunt of crises worldwide, from terrorism surges within the Sahel and conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine to armed teams within the japanese Democratic Republic of the Congo and gangs ravaging Haiti.
“For tens of millions of individuals caught up in battle around the globe, life is a lethal, each day, hungry hell,” he mentioned.
Urging a worldwide push for peace, he particularly addressed the disaster in Gaza, terming it a “festering wound on our collective conscience.”
He referred to as for a right away humanitarian ceasefire, condemning the brutal 7 October assaults by Hamas and different militant teams on Israeli civilians, whereas stressing the necessity for a two-State resolution.
‘An age of chaos’
Mr. Guterres asserted that if all international locations fulfilled their obligations underneath the UN Charter, each particular person’s proper to a lifetime of peace and dignity can be assured.
“However, governments are ignoring and undermining the very tenets of multilateralism with zero accountability,” he mentioned.
He additionally pointed to a “deadlocked” Security Council. He described the present dysfunction as deeper and extra harmful, signalling the world’s entry into “an age of chaos”.
“We’re seeing the outcomes: a harmful and unpredictable free-for-all with whole impunity,” he continued, warning of dangers starting from stealthier nuclear weapons to new domains of battle and weapons.
UN Picture/Eskinder Debebe
UN Secretary-Common António Guterres (centre) solutions questions from the media on the Rafah crossing.
New Agenda for Peace
To handle the complexities of at present’s multipolar world, the UN chief underlined the necessity to strengthen and renew world peace and safety frameworks.
He recalled the New Agenda for Peace, which he launched in mid-2023, advocating for Safety Council reform, a recommitment to eliminating nuclear weapons, intensified battle prevention efforts and measures to mitigate the affect of geopolitical competitors on world commerce guidelines, provide chains, currencies and the web.
Combatting hate speech
The UN chief additionally voiced concern about rising hate speech, discrimination, extremism and human rights abuses globally.
He referred to as for a renewed social contract primarily based on belief, justice and inclusion, anchored in human rights, together with his Call to Action for Human Rights and a forthcoming code of conduct for info integrity.
Addressing the affect of latest applied sciences, he additionally famous the work of the Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, which displays the central convening position of the Group, bringing collectively governments, non-public corporations, academia and civil society
UN Picture/Evan Schneider
Secretary-Common António Guterres (left) and Albert Ramdin, Minister for International Affairs of the Republic of Suriname, plant a younger mangrove tree within the Weg Naar Zee mangrove rehabilitation website in Suriname.
Constructing a sustainable future
Mr. Guterres highlighted the interdependence of peace and sustainable, inclusive growth and emphasised that attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is essential for constructing peace and prosperity.
To maintain the promise of the SDGs, he referred to as for progress in two essential areas: the SDG Stimulus of $500 billion yearly in inexpensive long-term finance for creating international locations and reform of the worldwide monetary structure to reply to the wants of all international locations.
He additionally harassed that the local weather disaster stays the world’s most urgent problem.
He famous the inevitable decline of the fossil gasoline period and the unstoppable renewable power revolution. Urging motion this yr to stop a local weather disaster, he referred to as for tripling world renewable power capability, doubling power effectivity by 2030 and exploring modern sources of local weather finance.
‘Wars destroy; peace builds’
Peace, the Secretary-Common concluded, stays essentially the most important human endeavour, able to attaining wonders that wars by no means will.
“Wars destroy; peace builds,” he mentioned, including, nevertheless, that in at present’s troubled world, “constructing peace is a aware, daring and even radical act.”
He urged a collective dedication to this obligation for current and future generations, affirming his unwavering dedication to pushing for peace.
