ISO General Assembly

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here with you at the opening of ISO’s General Assembly. I am proud that the UN is co-organizing this event with ISO, here in Geneva, where we can bring our communities together. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the ISO members, and since we are in Switzerland, a particular thank you to the Swiss Association for Standardization.

It is really very fitting that you are meeting here in International Geneva – the operational heart of the multilateral system.

Whenever I talk about the benefits of the multilateral system to the broader public, I make the point that much of our work actually goes unseen. The multilateral system is more than just a lofty search for world peace.

It is about the very tangible and direct improvements in the life of every person on this planet – in any 24-hour period.

For example, over the course of these past 70 years, the likelihood of dying in a car accident in Europe or the US has dropped by an incredible 96%.

Reflecting on whom we have to thank for this quickly leads us right here to Geneva.

Of course, there is the technological advancement, such as the invention of seatbelts and airbags. But we also have the more technical, low-profile work that is one of the features of International Geneva.

In the 1950s, a working party of technical experts from the Sustainable Transport Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe met right here in this town and they developed the global rules to ensure the safety of cars.

Technical and low profile perhaps, but looking at the countless lives it saved, the impact of their work was remarkable.

Since its creation in 1947, ISO has been an important partner in achieving this progress – by raising awareness, training professionals, or developing standards. The standard setting efforts of the ISO have been critical in enabling the multilateral system to deliver better and more efficiently.

With a portfolio of more than 22 000 international standards covering all the SDGs, from industry to healthcare, to technology and climate change – your work encompasses all aspects of our daily life.

ISO plays a strategic role in harmonizing and streamlining the diverse efforts of various stakeholders towards a common goal. Most notably, at ISO, you work together with the private sector to set the benchmarks for their participation in the implementation of the SDGs – giving them ownership of the process.

Now, finding ourselves in the midst of the implementation phase of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – humanity’s roadmap for a better world - we need you to continue this important work.

But it is clear that one single organization cannot act alone – international organizations and governments need to work together with businesses and other actors if we hope to achieve tangible and sustainable results.

Strong collaboration between regional organisations like UNECE and organisations like the ISO are critical towards reaching the Global Agenda by 2030. These joint efforts, be it to agree on common objectives, to measure progress, or to enable innovation as we move forward, respond to the global needs of businesses and policy-makers alike.

And seeing so many of you convene around the ISO General Assembly shows we have come a long way in this shared journey.

We have acknowledged the key linkages between standards and the SDGs.

Now it is time to go a step further. In the breakout sessions today, you will have the pleasure to hear a rich selection of case studies representing the experiences of global policy makers and standards users.

Coming from communities large and small, from places far and near, the speakers will tell you how they have used standards in shaping policies in critical sectors such as water, energy, smart cities, and climate action.

Taking inspiration from these case studies, I encourage you all to inform this discussion by sharing your stories. What did standards help you achieve? What challenges did you face in implementing them?

Your experience is invaluable, as it will provide us with a collective body of lessons and practical tools, which link standards with our shared aspirations for prosperous and inclusive societies.

One such practical tool is the use of standards as an enabler of women’s empowerment. The International Gender Champion Network - a leadership network that brings together female and male decision-makers determined to break down gender barriers, which launched right here in Geneva in 2015 - is looking to formally establish an “Impact Group on Gender”.

This builds on the UNECE “Declaration on Gender Responsive Standards”, which I encourage all standards bodies to sign.

Let me conclude with a comment on your decision making process, which I commend. When a new ISO International Standard is agreed, it is the result of a formal, global consensus on the subject, recognized by all parties at the national and international levels – granting it additional credibility.

Your method of reaching global consensus without insisting on unanimity could serve some international organizations as an example of good practice in overcoming difficulties in their decision-making processes.

I welcome your continued commitment to delivering a standards-based approach to regulations and policies in support of the 2030 Agenda.

Your success in doing so is essential to tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges, to ensure that we leave no one behind.

I wish you productive discussions over the upcoming days.

Thank you.