UNRC remarks for UN Day 2023

Behind the 111 articles of the UN Charter, stand the 193 United Nations Member states and their peoples, indeed: all of us. 

The United Nations at its core – all of us.  

Indeed, 78 years ago as the world emerged from the second world war and the United Nations was founded, there was commitment and hope that ushered in a new era of global cooperation: 

• to maintain international peace and security,  

• to cooperate in solving international problems,  

• to promote sustainable development; and   

• to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. 

Decades on, this purpose and these values remain as true, and as necessary today, as they were then.  

The last few years have shown just how interconnected we are, and that actions on one side of the world will have repercussions on the other side, or indeed all over – on all of us. 

Since early 2020, all countries have been affected by COVID-19. This tragic pandemic has resulted in almost seven million deaths, as well as major setbacks to health, education, and economic development including in our Blue Pacific region. Fiji was hit hard, as we all know, due to its dependence on the tourism industry that collapsed overnight.  

And as we gather today, sadly peace is under assault across communities, countries, and regions, and we recognize the important role of nations like Fiji in UN peacekeeping operations. Peace is also under assault within the hearts and minds of people by the dark forces of disinformation and hate speech.   

We see Russia waging war against Ukraine and we see – sadly – escalating violence in the Middle East and elsewhere in war and conflict zones that may draw lesser attention in the media.  

These conflicts have devasting impacts on the daily lives of people in the affected regions, as well as wider impacts felt here in the Pacific and elsewhere on food security and commodity and energy prices.   

And critical to our Blue Pacific region, we see the escalating impacts of the climate crisis, which is now an emergency, with the months of June, July, and August this year being the world’s hottest on record and the upcoming cyclone season in the Pacific predicted to have five to seven severe tropical cyclones. 

Economic losses due to disasters in Pacific Small Island Developing States are already more than US$ 1 billion annually, or nearly 5 per cent of the combined GDP of Pacific SIDS.  

At the mid-way point of the 2030 Agenda, the world is off track to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals we set ourselves – all of us. 

Here in the Pacific, on the current trajectory, it is unlikely we will achieve even 20 per cent of the SDG targets by 2030.  

While lack of progress is uneven but universal, it is the poorest and most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst effects of these unprecedented global challenges. 

As the UN Secretary General has said, “unless we act now, the 2030 Agenda will become an epitaph for a world that might have been.” 

*** (Pause) 

You may think that it is a rather depressing picture that I paint, but it is also a picture of our interdependence, our common humanity, our opportunity to collaborate more, and to actively strive for a better world.  

It is all of us.  

It is all of us that have the responsibility to build a world of peace, a world of sustainable development, a world that limits global warming to 1.5 C, and a world that ensures human rights for all are a reality.  

It is all of us.  

Multilateralism comes with its own set of challenges, but it is essential. Existential challenges like climate change are bigger than any one state or region and require international cooperation. All of us.  

The global community of member states – that is the UN - is guided by timeless principles and values. These core values of peace, security, cooperation, development, and human rights are essential now, and we must uphold them - especially in times of adversity.  

Pacific Leaders have shown us what multilateralism can deliver – including through advocacy to secure a Loss and Damage Fund, asking for an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change, and securing an international agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.    

Excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen - rather than focusing on division, now is the time to build cohesion, to expand opportunities, to leave no one behind. We need to strengthen multilateralism, refocus on its principles and values, rescue the SDGs, and make the United Nations work for the rising challenges we face here in the Pacific and elsewhere, for all of us.  

At the SDG Summit in New York last month, Member states agreed to focus on major transitions to drive SDG achievement, such as:  

• enhancing social protection,  

• speeding up the energy transition,  

• ensuring education for all,  

• creating sustainable food systems,  

• accelerating the digital transformation, and  

• halting biodiversity loss and protect nature.  

Member states also called for a massive increase in financing the SDGs to the tune of $500 billion each year.  

Here in the Blue Pacific, Leaders have set out a bold vision for the region through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The Strategy rightly recognizes that securing the future of the Pacific cannot be left to chance, but requires a long-term vision, strategy, and commitment, particularly in the face of escalating development and environmental challenges and geopolitical tensions.  

As the United Nations, we are working closely with the Pacific Islands Forum and are committed to bringing expertise, resourcing, and partnerships to support the realization of the 2050 Strategy.  

Today, over 30 UN agencies are working across 14 Pacific Islands Countries and Territories on priorities ranging from peace building and social cohesion, climate action, gender equality, quality education, good governance and anti-corruption, non-communicable diseases, human rights, food security, disaster resilience and humanitarian response, to name but a few.  

UN agencies are also working to connect Pacific member states into multilateral processes, to ensure Pacific priorities are voiced and acted upon on the global stage.  

As the UN, we recognize and value the role of Pacific regional organizations in delivering for the region and are strengthening our collaboration and partnerships. We look forward to signing the first-ever UN principles of dialogue and engagement with the Forum Secretary General and CROP agencies, following the Forum Leaders meeting in the Cook Islands next month.  

Last month, I was pleased to join with Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Biman Prasad, to sign the UN’s Fiji Country Implementation Plan. This two-year plan sets out the UN’s engagement and programming to deliver on Fiji’s National Development Plan and priorities. It is about working to ensure all Fijians are equal and free to exercise their fundamental rights, enjoy gender equality and peace, are resilient to existential threats, and living in harmony with nature in prosperous country.  

Indeed, this is what we must continue working for here in Fiji, and for all people across our region and our world. For all of us.  

In conclusion, let me thank you all once again for joining in this celebration of UN Day. It is a day to reflect on our collective achievements, our challenges, and our hopes, and to commit to working better together for the Blue Pacific and our Blue Planet. 

Now more than ever, we need global solidarity, collective action, commitment, and mutual trust.    

Only together can we push for peace to rescue the Global Goals for people and planet. 

It is all of us.  

…. And it requires all of us.  

Thank You - Vinaka Vakalevu - Dhanyavaad! 

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