"The 17th Edition of Geneva International Model United Nations Annual Conference 2016” by the Geneva International Model United Nations (GIMUN)

President Zwygart,
Dear students and friends:

A very warm welcome to the Palais des Nations for the opening of the 17th edition of your Geneva International Model United Nations (GIMUN) Annual Conference. Geneva is a hub for action on many challenges the world is facing today, so it is very fitting that your conference takes place here, at the heart of the United Nations. We are happy that this conference has become an annual tradition. We very much appreciate GIMUN’s efforts to promote the ideals and principles of the United Nations and to encourage the next generation’s leaders to shape their future. GIMUN gives young people from different parts of the world a flavour of what the multilateral diplomacy and negotiations process are about in practice. I have been told that more than three hundred students of some sixty nationalities participate in this conference – it is like being in a UN meeting with sixty national delegations! Thank you for the invitation to spend some time with you this morning.

I would also like to recognize GIMUN’s efforts in promoting multilingualism. Many thanks to your fellow students in the interpretation booths who ensure English and French interpretation.

During this week at the Palais des Nations, you have chosen to tackle many important issues which top the agenda of several United Nations entities and organs. From conflicts to terrorism, from climate migrants to privacy issues, from health to disarmament, from empowerment of women to human rights, you are addressing some core multi-layered and inter-linked challenges of our times.

Let me offer you some reflections on a few issues you will be discussing.

The world today is more interdependent and interconnected than it has ever been. The line between ‘national’ and ‘international’ has become blurred. Almost any issue being dealt with at domestic level - migration, health, energy, terrorism, for example – also has an international dimension. The countries of the world are increasingly recognizing that workable international solutions are in the national self-interest. It is no longer possible to approach peace and security, development and human rights in isolation. Development cannot be in the waiting mode while conflict is ongoing, and even small steps to address human rights and advance social progress can boost peace building and reconciliation efforts.

Let us take an example of the issue that is very high on the agenda of the international community today, namely the issue of refugees and migrants. The war in Syria has caused unacceptable human suffering, serious consequences for neighbouring countries and ramifications far beyond its borders, primarily in Europe. But the displacement issue goes beyond the immediate headlines of the so called European refugee crisis. International migrants who reside outside their country of birth or citizenship rose from some 170 million in 2000 to nearly 250 million in 2015 – an increase of 41 per cent. More than 60 million people are currently forcibly displaced. This is the highest number since the end of the Second World War. This includes 20 million refugees, which means that 8 out of every 100 international migrants are now refugees. The large majority of these refugees are hosted by developing countries. The international community is still struggling to find answers to this refugee crisis. The current negative narrative on migrants and refugees has to be addressed. Well-managed migration and mobility policies will benefit migrants, their families as well as the countries of origin and the countries of destination. These policies need to take into account a variety of issues, such as the human rights of migrants and refugees, the root causes of migration, contribution of migrants to societies, amongst others. There is also a pressing need to increase humanitarian financing, and a number of discussions are scheduled for the agenda of the international community this year. And in line with the issue you have chosen to tackle during your deliberations, we are likely to see vast numbers of climate migrants joining the migratory flow as the effects of climate change will impact more people in the future.

You will also be looking at the empowerment of female entrepreneurs. Tomorrow, we will celebrate International Women’s Day. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”. And that’s what we should do tomorrow and every day of the year. Many achievements have been made in the past years. More girls are in school. More women are working. More women are in leadership positions. But girls and women still face discrimination and cannot realize their full potential in large parts of the world. The effects of inequality impact us all. Because full equality for women means healthier societies. Women’s equal participation in the workforce impacts positively economic growth. Their equal access to quality education means stronger families, communities and democracies. And their equal representation in leadership positions, including in the United Nations, builds a more just, peaceful and secure world. To achieve gender equality, actions – big and small - should be taken every day, and everybody needs to play a role. Let me give you an example of the International Geneva Gender Champions Initiative that I launched with the Ambassador of the United States last year. This initiative now counts almost 100 partners from Permanent Missions, International Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations in Geneva. The members of this network pledge to lead by example through practical, implementable and trackable actions that bring genuine change in the organizational culture and programming. One concrete action is to strive for gender parity in all discussions in International Geneva. Personally, I no longer speak at panel discussions that do not include women. Women should be at the table, and we can only achieve this if we all take steps and lead by example.

As we speak, the second week of the 31st session of the Human Rights Council is taking place just next door – a truly vital instrument in the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. History has not failed to remind us that the respect for human rights of all individuals ensures that nations and peoples can live in peace, with sustainable and long-lasting development. This year we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights, which set out the civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. Since the adoption of these two Covenants, pivotal changes have occurred across the world, with many countries recognizing human rights and the rule of law as the basis for truly resilient and stable societies. But human rights violations still persist in different regions of the world, and we still have a way to go to achieve universal ratification and implementation.

As you know, very important policy frameworks have been negotiated and agreed during 2015, which set the roadmap for the international system for the next decades. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its financing, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change have been adopted. These frameworks are interlinked, and the year 2016 paves the way to their implementation phase. Effective multilateralism and partnerships will be central to the Agenda for Sustainable Development, which calls for a whole-of-society, whole-of-government strategy, involving all levels of government, as well as of other partners. The collective effort of all actors – Member States, the UN system, civil society, the private sector, think tanks, academic and research institutions - will be required, as well as a new mode of functioning and new partnerships. We need to adopt a horizontal, not vertical, approach to thinking and working, placing the problem and the challenges in the center. The 17 goals of the universal Agenda for Sustainable Development aim to eradicate poverty and to ensure that no-one is left behind. It aims to build peaceful and inclusive societies, where institutions are transparent and effective. To do this in a sustainable way, we must protect our planet and its natural resources. But the SDGs are not just about poverty. They also address areas like health, education, women’s empowerment, sustainable economic growth, employment, inequality and climate change. These are issues of concern to us all, both, at national and international levels no matter where we live. I encourage you to take this universal framework into account in your deliberations.

Facing some of the challenges I addressed earlier, one may feel powerless and discouraged. Asking oneself: “How can I make a difference as an individual in this big, multi-layered, complex system?” You can, you should and hopefully you will make a difference. Let me remind you that small steps will make a big difference over time. You are already taking this step just by being here and being motivated and ready to tackle the challenges of our times. With a collective effort, there is nothing we cannot achieve and it is young people like you that secure this active engagement for the decades ahead.

The UN entities and other stakeholders based here in Geneva play an important role in giving a push to the world on peace, rights and well-being. Some of you might be joining International Geneva in the future as representatives of your country, members of non-governmental organizations, researchers in academic institutions or United Nations staff. The knowledge of the UN system and practical skills that you develop through this Model United Nations will be of a good service for your future work. I urge you to be creative, think out of the box and be long-term oriented when proposing solutions to our challenges. I very much hope that this event will inspire you to great achievements in the future. Let me wish you a fruitful discussion and innovative ideas to be generated over the next few days.

Thank you very much, and I would now like to hear your views, comments and questions. Feel free to speak in French or English.