Director-General's remarks at the UNICEF International Council Annual Symposium 2024

UNICEF International Council Annual Symposium 2024

Thursday, 7 November 2024 at 11.45 a.m.

Building A, Room III, Palais des Nations

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

It is a privilege to welcome you to the Palais des Nations, one of the largest diplomatic centres in the world, for the UNICEF International Council annual symposium in Geneva. Your presence underscores our shared commitment to children, reaffirming Geneva as a global hub for advancing their rights and well-being. 

As the Director-General of the United Naitons Office at Geneva, my mandate is to support the UN’s missions including by fostering multistakeholder collaborations. This role builds upon a career dedicated to diplomacy and multilateral cooperation. I started working as Director-General in 2019, a role I embraced after a varied career dedicated to diplomacy, multilateralism, and building global partnerships. 

Before taking up my current post, I worked for the Eurasian Economic Commission as a Member of the Board (Minister level) for 7 years. I led on the implementation of integration policies within the Commission, oversaw the negotiation of free trade agreements, and managed relations with international organizations. And this experience gave me a strong conviction that multilateral cooperation can build a better, more stable, and just world. This belief is one that resonates deeply with the values of the United Nations and guides my work today. 

The UN was created as the table around which all Member States, and an increasing number of non-State actors, can sit down and resolve their issues and disagreements in a peaceful and forward looking way. The mandate of the United Nations Office at Geneva, at the heart of the multilateral system, is exactly to facilitate these multilateral discussions and to provide a space for nations, organizations, and leaders to dialogue on the most critical issues facing our world. 

Back in 1919, the creation of the League of Nations embodied the ambitious vision of a new management of international relations after the devastating World War I. Its aim was nothing less than to safeguard universal peace. 

Although the League had its limitations, its legacy laid the foundation for the United Nations we know today. From disarmament to the protection of minorities and refugees, from international justice to intellectual cooperation and the regulation of labor, the legacy of the League of Nations has paved the way for the advent of contemporary multilateralism based on the rules of international law.

Geneva is the center of the history of multilateralism. The historical archives of the League of Nations, over 15 million pages listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, are kept here, at the Palais des Nations. In 2022, we completed a major project to digitize the entire original archives of the League of Nations which are now available for everyone, free of charge. They bear witness to the commitment of our predecessors to the cause of peace and international cooperation.

While you are at the Palais, you can visit the exhibition “100 Years of Multilateralism in Geneva”. Featuring unique documents from UN archives, the UN system, and private collections, the exhibition traces the evolution of the multilateral system from the League of Nations to today’s United Nations. It invites us not only to reflect on the current importance of multilateralism in the international system but also to envision its future, inspiring all of us to contribute to its continued progress.

2024 marks the centenary of the Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child, signed here in 1924. This Declaration established a moral and legal responsibility to prioritize children’s rights, inspiring the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a landmark in the global commitment to children’s well-being. This commitment has only grown more urgent as children today face unprecedented challenges – from the global learning crisis to climate change impacts and increased exploitation and violence.

2024 also marks the 75 years of the Geneva Conventions, which protect victims of war by safeguarding the rights of prisoners and civilians. Adopted in 1949, they remain vital to upholding human dignity in conflict, and underscoring Geneva’s enduring commitment to peace and human rights. 

The rich history is matched by Geneva’s dynamic presence today as a major diplomatic hub and operational center: Geneva hosts 184 Permanent Missions, over 40 UN agencies and entities, alongside intergovernmental organizations, approximately 750 NGOs, academia, and a vibrant private sector. Together, these actors foster a unique environment of exchange and innovation in areas from technology and health to humanitarian aid and environmental protection. 

Thanks to its multicultural diversity, Geneva became an incredible center of knowledge, innovation and collaboration on emerging global issues. Just one example: it was here that the International Gender Champions initiative was founded – a leadership network uniting female and male decision-makers determined to break down gender barriers and make gender equality a working reality. As the first woman to serve as Director-General of UNOG, and with early experience as one of the first women in foreign service at the Permanent Mission of the USSR to the European Union, I understand the importance of eliminating such barriers. To date, the network comprises over 330 active champions and 340 Alumni in several multilateral hubs around the world.

International Geneva is also a ‘city of choice’ for mediators and special envoys seeking a neutral, discreet space for dialogue. The Palais des Nations has hosted numerous peace processes including on Syria, Libya, Cyprus, Georgia, Yemen, and Sudan. 

Each year, thousands of high-level delegations participate in sessions such as the Human Rights Council, the Conference on Disarmament, and the World Health Assembly. In 2023, UNOG serviced around 8,500 meetings, making us one of the UN’s busiest duty stations for multilateral diplomacy.

UNICEF International Council’s presence here today highlights the strength of this ecosystem and the critical role of partnerships with private sector leaders like yourselves in supporting multilateral solutions. We are grateful for your influence and engagement in this shared mission.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Later on this month, on World Children’s Day, we will commemorate the 1989 adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. This will be yet another opportunity to remind the world about the UN’s commitment to children’s rights and needs and the central role that UNICEF plays in ensuring children’s voices are heard, their rights upheld, and their futures safeguarded.

Unfortunately, children today are living in a world that is increasingly unsecure. The global demand for humanitarian aid is at record levels, driven by conflict, health emergencies, and climate-induced crises. In these circumstances, UNICEF’s latest Global Annual Results Report reveals that the threats to children’s rights significantly outpace our capacity to fully protect them. Millions of children continue to face severe threats to their rights to life, healthcare, education, clean water, and protection. 

However, amidst these challenges, there is hope. Recently, the UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future, re-affirming their commitment to accelerating the SDGs. Annexed to this Pact is the Declaration on Future Generations, a framework for making decisions in the interest of children, youth and those not yet born, recognizing the intergenerational impact of today’s actions and inactions.

The Declaration decisively calls for crucial cooperation with multiple stakeholders, including civil society, academia, scientific and technological communities, and the private sector. 

Only through impactful contributors like you, distinguished members of the UNICEF International Council, can we fully mobilize a whole-of-society approach that develops innovative ideas and shares best practices to safeguard the needs and interests of future generations. Your influence, resources, and insight are invaluable to realizing this mission. 

Your generosity and commitment are transforming lives, showing how strategic philanthropy can catalyze impactful change. By focusing on investments that address root causes rather than quick fixes, you are shaping the futures of countless children and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

Today, I invite you to see Geneva as not only the historic home of multilateralism but also as a place where your influence can strengthen UN values and principles. Here, your ideas, resources, and networks can further amplify the impact we strive to achieve. 

In the words of Malala Yousafzai, “One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” Let us ensure that every child has the chance to be that change.

Thank you.