21st General Assembly of the Students' League of Nations

Director-General Tuck
Mr. Chairman
Mr. Secretary-General
Dear Students, Dear Friends:

A very warm welcome to you all and thank you very much for the invitation to be with you this morning. A special welcome to those of you who have travelled to come here.

We always enjoy hosting you here at the Palais des Nations, which is so closely connected both with the International School of Geneva and the Students’ League of Nations so thank you for the opportunity to come back again. I know from my personal experience at your age that thanking teachers is not really in your DNA, but I know that many of them have worked hard alongside you to organize this year’s General Assembly, so I also want to thank the teachers who have helped put all of this together - for you and for us.

Every year we host you is a special year, of course. But this year is particularly interesting because 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, which gave rise to the League of Nations from where you take your name and which is the foundation of our United Nations today.

Our world has been transformed almost beyond recognition since then. But the overarching challenges are not so different today, even if they have changed in scope and in scale. The Covenant of the League of Nations sets out its primary goals as preventing wars through collective security and disarmament, settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration, and makes reference to improvement of labour conditions, just treatment of individuals, combatting human and drug trafficking, arms trade, global health, prisoners of war and protection of minorities.

And while we today often refer to these issues in different terms, the overall objectives remain valid. Lack of respect for the rule of law, for the rules that we have agreed to together, and for the dignity of the individual are - without a doubt - the main drivers of instability and conflict also today. And the need for a strong multilateral system that can address these challenges in a comprehensive manner, in a way that ensures that everybody has a voice and can be taken seriously, is just as great today - if not greater. And this is why your interest in the work of the United Nations and getting involved in confronting global challenges is so important.

Your General Assembly takes on some of the key challenges we face - Ebola, the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, the need for strong democracies, climate change, and the question of reform of our financial institutions. We always look forward to these draft resolutions with great expectations - and we have certainly not been disappointed this year!

Let me just share a few thoughts on your resolutions, to place your discussions in context:

The Ebola situation has required new thinking among our Member States and our partners. Particularly Resolution 2177, which you have mentioned in your proposed text, was remarkable in that the Security Council determined that “the unprecedented extent of the Ebola outbreak in Africa constitutes a threat to international peace and security”. And I am pleased to see the proposal of a permanent surveillance and surge force, the Global Infection Field Team - “GIFT” as you call it - in your resolution. Prevention, monitoring and rapid response are essential to disease control. As you may know, there are a number of bodies that may be similar to what you have in mind. Nevertheless, there is most certainly always room for improvement and there will be lessons learned from the Ebola response. So, your proposal is a welcome idea and I encourage you also to think about whether you would want GIFT to replace or supplement existing structures.

The situation in Syria is clearly one of the most complex and most devastating conflicts we are currently experiencing. As we can see in the news every day, unfortunately a political solution has not yet been found. But there is no substitute for political dialogue to find a lasting solution. You have identified many of the most contentious issues in the draft resolution and I will be curious to see the outcomes of your deliberations.

I am glad that you place democracy at the heart of your discussions. And the definition used in the resolution on this issue is interesting. For us at the United Nations and for our Member States, it is important to note that there is not one model of democracy that fits all. All countries need to find the formula and format that allow for inclusive, participatory societies where all citizens are empowered and are allowed to help shape their own futures. And that can take many different forms. Agreeing on a definition will certainly be a challenge, and I look forward to seeing the outcome.

Another very timely issue is climate change. Working over time and only agreeing on Sunday morning, negotiators were in Peru last week as part of the efforts to reach a major global climate change agreement next year in Paris. And given how difficult it was to reach agreement in Lima, it is clear that we have yet another critical year ahead. The document agreed in Lima calls for an “ambitious agreement” in 2015 that reflects ”differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” of each nation; for developed countries to provide financial support to “vulnerable” developing nations; and for national pledges to be submitted by the first quarter of 2015 by States who are ready to do so.

You have gone right to the heart of the problem in the draft resolution: who pollutes, who suffers the harshest consequences, and who will pay for the response? You mention carbon markets and funds for developing countries, as well as new green technologies. Agreement is needed on all of these issues so we can push in the same direction. And it will be interesting to see which solutions you will agree on - and maybe you will also need to negotiate into the night like in Lima!

Finally, you touch on financial institutions. The global economic and financial crisis has undoubtedly shown that in this sector too, reform - or maybe even more profound restructuring - is very much needed. The issues you address primarily with respect to the IMF are, of course, a wider phenomenon in institutions: once they are set up, it is not easy to change them. But, ultimately, international institutions will be most effective when they address the needs of their constituents in an equitable way. Also here I think that reality is imposing itself, as it always does, and this will push these institutions to change.

Common to all of these challenges is the need for innovation and fresh ideas - whether we are looking at political or development challenges. And that innovation will come from you and your generation.

I have just come back yesterday evening from a very inspiring meeting in Rome with many Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. Inspiring not only because each of them has shown tremendous courage in very difficult circumstances, but mostly it was inspiring because it showed the incredible potential for change that each one of us possesses. All the Laureates that I met were ordinary people who achieved something extraordinary because they cared about their communities and the world around them and they wanted to make a difference.

We will not all win Nobel Prizes but we can all make a real and lasting difference for others when we get involved. And that is what is truly extraordinary about us as the human race. Each one of you has that potential to make a difference. Institutions are important and they do facilitate progress; the same goes for technology. But it is people who make things happen. This is also why education is so critical - we need to educate and be educated so we can make a difference. Thank you to the International School and all the schools involved here for taking on that important responsibility, which we will explore together next year at our “Education for Peace” conference.

It is when we pool this potential that we can change the world for the better together. And by being here today, you are already taking a key step in your own journey to do exactly that. I wish you all success in your discussions here, in your studies and in your journey to change the world.

As always, I am glad to have some time to discuss with you. When I was here last year, I had the sentiment that the teachers had frightened everybody in advance with the need to be very respectful here at the United Nations and it took some time before anybody had the courage to get up and ask the hard questions. So, at the risk of contradicting the orders you may have received before I arrived, I encourage you to not be too respectful - and ask any question you like!

Thank you very much.