Director-General's message on the occasion of the Intergenerational Dialogue on Geneva

Intergenerational Dialogue 2024 – 

The role of International Geneva in the UN 2.0

25 April 2024, at 17:30

Swiss Press Club

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Dear friends,

It is my great pleasure to address this 2024 Intergenerational Dialogue. I thank Greycells and its many partners for organizing this event and for bringing together different generations - young people as well as current and former international civil servants united by their search for solutions to the challenges of our times. 

The focus of your discussion could not come at a more important moment. The upcoming Summit of the Future in September presents a once-in-a-generation multistakeholder opportunity to address the current crisis of multilateralism while preparing for the challenges of the future. 

The role of International Geneva in support of the Summit cannot be overstated. Our diverse, dynamic, and highly knowledgeable ecosystem has a key role to play to address the existential challenges we are facing today and those on the horizon.

This delicate balance between the past and the present is at the heart of sustainable development, and it requires all of us to think and act with future generations in mind.

But achieving this effectively necessitates the meaningful engagement of young people. It is vital that they are fully involved in decision-making processes at all levels, particularly as such decisions will shape their own lives and those of generations to come. 

This event is a powerful example of demonstrating how International Geneva is walking the talk on mainstreaming an intergenerational lens. At the United Nations Office at Geneva we value opportunities to engage with young people in the context of our annual events such as the Young Activists Summit and Model United Nations, as well as through the various work streams of the SDG Lab in my Office.

As we move forward in preparing for the Summit of the Future, I invite you to continuously embed intergenerational principles into your work. 

This is a paramount consideration to reinvigorate multilateralism and to ensure a sustainable future for present and future generations.

I wish you forward looking and fruitful discussions.

Thank you.