Photographic Exhibition on City Success in Reducing Urban Poverty

Mr. Buhne
Dear Colleagues
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is my privilege to represent the Acting Director-General of UNOG, Mr. Michael Møller, who very much regrets that he cannot be here with you tonight. He has asked me to deliver a message in support of this important event.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the opening of this remarkable exhibition on Cities. My sincere appreciation goes to the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty, for their collaboration in organizing this unique photography exhibition, on the scenic promenade of Quai Wilson.
I would like to extend a special thanks to the photographers for their generous contributions, and for sharing their creative vision of both the challenges and solutions faced by those living in urban communities.

With half of the world’s population living in cities, and urban growth in the developing world at an all-time high, it is, indeed, imperative that we strive for sustainable urbanization. Achieving global sustainability must begin in our cities. By building more sustainable cities, we are building a more sustainable world. A world that is accessible for all.

I avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate the Secretariat of the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty on their transfer to the UN Office for South-South Cooperation. I am confident that their shared efforts in promoting city-to-city collaboration will greatly impact the economic and social growth of the global south. I applaud their commitment to sustainable urbanization.

Let us emulate their example - and together face the challenges in this ever-evolving world. Let us make our cities cleaner and safer. Urban resilience is a priority - let us commit to making our cities and towns more socially inclusive, economically productive and environmentally sustainable.

It is my hope that this exhibition will bring forth the issue of sustainable urbanization to the public eye – and inspire cities to work together, to find solutions, to reduce poverty. ”

That was the end of the Acting Director-General’s message.

I join him in wishing you a very successful event.

Thank you very much.