Director-General's remarks at the Meeting with Fellows of the United Nations President of the General Assembly Fellowship Programme

Meeting with the Fellows 
of the United Nations President of the General Assembly Fellowship Programme 

Tuesday, 11 June 2024, at 11.30 a.m. 

Building H, Palais des Nations

Dear Fellows,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Palais des Nations, at the heart of International Geneva. I am delighted to meet with you to share some thoughts on the state of our world, multilateralism, as well as the role of the UN and International Geneva in the ongoing multilateral processes. I am also eager to learn from you. As representatives of the new generation of diplomats, you bring fresh insights and a growing understanding of the UN system and our priorities. As you have already done the largest portion of this President of the UN General Assembly fellowship in New York, I will also be eager to hear your views and suggestions on the functioning of the UN system.

The state of our world

I would like to start with global challenges we are facing today.

Geopolitical tensions. Since the end of the Second World War, we have not seen such a level of geopolitical tensions, wars and conflict as we have now. These conflicts are more entrenched, with devastating consequences for civilians. My colleagues at the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimate that in 2024, nearly 300 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection, due to conflicts, climate emergencies and other challenges. 

Just to give one example, in five weeks of war in Gaza alone, the number of civilian deaths in conflict was equivalent to almost 60 per cent of the total global number of civilians killed in 2022, which was itself already the deadliest year since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Almost 1 child in every 5 around the world is living in or fleeing from conflict zones.

Global mistrust. We are also witnessing an unprecedent level of anxiety, uncertainty, and unpredictability across the world. And a global lack of trust not only among countries and regions, but also within countries. A rising tide of populism has harnessed discontent to determine political, social and economic agendas across the globe. 

Another challenge is inequality, brought to the forefront by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has caused the largest rise of inequality between countries in three decades. Developing countries are still struggling to recover – with record inflation, rising interest rates, looming debt burdens, and exponential increases in the cost of financing. 

Another global challenge we are dealing with is climate change and ecological crisis. Globally, the past decade was already 1.2°C warmer than at the pre-industrial time. This March was the hottest on record, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service – the tenth month of record heat in a row. Today, humanity spews out over forty gigatons of carbon dioxide every year. At this rate, the planet will soon be pushed past the 1.5-degree limit, with devastating consequences. 

Some countries suffer much more severely from the effects of climate change than others. These countries, such as small island states, are not the countries who have contributed most to the problem. They don’t not have production industrialization which significantly changes the climate, and now they are facing today existential threats that put their survival at stake. 

The future of modern technology. The promise and perils of modern technology are evident in our daily lives. The digital realm became indispensable during the pandemic, but we must also grapple with the challenges posed by modern technology, including the potential dark side of artificial intelligence.

There are many discussions taking place on possible negative consequences of Artificial Intelligence. Experts and specialists who develop AI are raising their voices and telling the humanity that this area must be controlled and regulated. Ethical and moral consequences of AI are also paramount and will affect humanity on a global scale. This cannot be addressed by a single country alone. 

These global and multiple challenges might be overwhelming for the multilateral system we have today. Indeed, these are times of global transformations, when one social and economic paradigm is being replaced by another. Our world is transforming towards a new social, economic and political order. Such transformations in the past have always been accompanied by crises or revolutions, for example in the French or American revolution. 

We are now undergoing transformation to a new paradigm towards a world that is more interconnected, where national frontiers are no longer barriers to economic exchange, where decision-making is more decentralized. And we hope it will mean a new world where the voices of all the nations are taken into account, where societies are more inclusive: a diverse world that shares common values firmly embodied in the UN Charter and a vision for our common future.

The state of multilateralism

For the United Nations to sustain its mission of supporting UN Member States in securing a brighter future – considering many multiplying global challenges, – we need a new international consensus on a concrete plan to better meet today’s needs and tackle tomorrow’s obstacles. We need a renewed multilateralism – one that is far more networked, far more inclusive, and far more effective.   

To achieve this, we need all stakeholders on board. Governments are steering international cooperation, but there are many more actors shaping policy, civil society and academic institutions, private companies and philanthropists, city mayors and citizens. 

This change is underway. 4 months from now the Summit of the Future will take place. This once-in-a-generation opportunity is our chance to shape multilateralism for years to come and to make it fit for the future. It will also allow us to reaffirm existing commitments, including to the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvented multilateral system better positioned to impact people’s lives positively. 

In a world that faces major global shocks that challenges more than ever our international institutions, unity around our shared principles and common goals is crucial. 

A good example is when Member States managed to collectively and unanimously agree on a roadmap – the 2030 Agenda, our blueprint to build a better world for all. This roadmap represents the most ambitious development plan humanity has ever had. It outlines a world where no one is left behind, poverty is eradicated, decent jobs are available to all, education is accessible, nature and culture are protected, human rights are upheld, and more.

Other most recently adopted global agreements include the Paris agreement to combat climate change, the Global Compact on Migration, and many more. 

Indeed, multilateralism is about much more than the prevention of conflict among nations, but about countries coming together to fight hunger; to eradicate diseases; to boost literacy; to promote prosperity and trade across borders. In fact, it is even about seemingly little things like street signs or the dialing codes we use to call friends and family abroad. 

The role of International Geneva 

International Geneva is at the forefront of multilateral diplomacy. It gained this unique position over the past 100 years. Back in 1919, the creation of the League of Nations embodied both the ambitious vision of a new management of international relations and a concrete response to the political failings of the great powers. Its aim was nothing less than to safeguard universal peace.

Despite the failure that some consider it to have been, the League of Nations laid the foundations for what the United Nations undertakes 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. 

International Geneva is home to over 100 international organizations, including over 40 UN funds, programmes, and specialized agencies, a unique near universal representation of 184 Member States, and over 750 Non-Governmental Organizations.  

It hosts a dynamic private sector and prominent academic institutions, and experts, all with strong expertise, know-how and collaborative culture, working at the forefront of technological innovation, trade, development and humanitarian assistance, health, peace-building and environmental protection, and much more.

Over the past years, this unique network has continued to grow (e.g. opening of new Permanent Missions, cooperation platforms, increase of 30% of accredited NGOs), allowing the city to become a ‘go to’ place when it comes to multilateral discussions on a wide range of topics, including global health, disarmament, human rights, humanitarian affairs, etc. 

While it is often considered the center of the history of multilateralism, Geneva is also the center of its memory. UN Geneva is connecting the whole world through the total digital access and search function to the League of Nations Archives, which include 15 million pages or almost three linear kilometers of documents. Only by better understanding the history of multilateralism – the story of our common humanity – can we be better equipped to build the multilateralism of tomorrow. As fellows, I hope you will draw inspiration from this important collection that you can find on our website. 

The UN Office at Geneva provides services to support multilateral diplomacy. It also plays a leading role in fostering and enabling collaboration with and among Member States and supporting intergovernmental processes. For instance, meetings serviced last year included all sessions of the Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review and other related mechanisms, and the Conference on Disarmament, as well as various UN-led peace initiatives (Syria, the Geneva International Discussions, and Yemen).

UN Geneva provides support to multilateral processes, beyond Geneva – such as the COP28 in Dubai. We hosted a number of other high-level events (e.g. Human Rights 75, International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan, High-Level Pledging Event on the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, Global Refugee Forum. Two weeks ago we hosted the World Health Assembly; last week – the 112^th International Labour Conference and this week the Global Leaders Forum marking 60^th anniversary of UNCTAD).

Geneva-based organizations address emerging challenges through multi-sectoral - technical, legal, economic, security, human rights, and development - perspectives. As home to such actors as WHO, ILO, UNECE, IOM and the WTO, International Geneva is well-placed and well-equipped to lead the global community in navigating the challenges of our time. This is a unique advantage.

Just one example: International Geneva is championing gender and equality issues. The International Gender Champions Network was created in Geneva and now comprises over 300 leaders, including the UN Secretary-General and myself, committed to championing gender equality and women’s empowerment. UNOG traditionally implements a number of initiatives aimed at achieving gender equality. For instance, in 2021 we organized an exhibition “Not a Woman’s Job?” which recognized women all around the world whose profession is traditionally associated with the “man’s world” such as film directors, entrepreneurs, scientists, security officials, airline pilots or ship captains. Another example is the initiative “17 Faces of Action” that we are co-organizing in several countries, showcasing women’s contributions to the implementation of the SDGs. 

Role of young people 

In line with our objective of a more inclusive multilateralism, UN remains deeply committed to engaging youth.  It is vital as young people need to know they have a stake in society, a society that believes in them and invests in them. This is exactly why the UN established the United Nations Youth Office last year, to provide young people with a real opportunity to take part in the decision-making process. I hope you had a chance to meet with the Office in New York.

Furthermore, we see it clearly all over the world – young people want a seat at the table. They want to be involved, they want to raise awareness on the world’s issues, they want to be part of the discussions, and they want to suggest solutions whether at the local or global levels. 

At UN Geneva, we are deeply committed to supporting youth engagement. Each year, we host young groups at the Palais and engage in numerous youth activities. We recently opened applications for our 2024 Graduate Study Programme and received a record-breaking 1,800 applications from 42 countries. This response to our longest-running educational program reflects the global interest and enthusiasm of young minds, and we could not be happier.

Every year, we host Model UN sessions, numerous informational programs for students of all ages, and also the Young Activists Summit, the Geneva Peace Week etc. where the voices of young leaders are heard.

Conclusion

We are standing at a crossroads, a fragile moment in time where the state of multilateral cooperation is changing and is being put to the test. Now, more than ever though, we have a shared interest in looking after our planet, our future, and each other. As Secretary-General António Guterres said, “the choices we make, or fail to make, today, could result in a breakdown or a breakthrough to a greener, better and safer future. The choice is ours to make”. 

Despite the challenges to multilateralism, the United Nations remains the only truly global, truly neutral, truly legitimate table around which all stakeholders can come together to find solutions. 

Throughout your careers you will encounter the many difficulties of engaging in multilateral discussions. You will also experience the immense power of dialogue, negotiation and cooperation. You can be influential in shaping policy and play a critical role how we, as a global community, work better together. 

Now I look forward to your questions and comments.

Thank you.