UNITED NATIONS – President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dennis Francis, says that when questions about the relevance of the United Nations are echoing louder “If we are honest, we must accept that there is a certain legitimacy to these questions”.
Addressing the Plenary meeting on Joint debate on Implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations and the Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, the Trinidad and Tobago diplomat said the focus today is the revitalization of the work of the UNGA, adding “we undertake this charge at a historic juncture”.
He said daily, the images of the human dimensions and costs of war and humanitarian crises are being etched indelibly into the public consciousnes
“Obviously, they find it unbearable, unacceptable and cruel and want it to stop; they no doubt feel intense frustration and disillusionment when the organization charged with stopping it seems incapable of doing so.
“And while the war rages on, development, climate crisis, human rights and disarmament concerns forcefully grind on, showing very little progress with the march of time.”
Francis said that last month, at the annual gathering of the Council of former Presidents of the General Assembly in Seoul, he heard strong calls to optimise the Assembly’s efficiency and effectiveness , and, an impassioned call, to forge a common vision to guide the UN’s most democratic body in today’s challenging era.
“I was both encouraged and gratified to learn beforehand that the former Presidents are especially keen to offer their collective wisdom and capacity to ensure the strengthening of the role of the General Assembly and its President, as the elected leader of this, the largest and most democratic organ of the United Nations.
“While some may regard revitalization as a technical process, it is, on the contrary, essentially a political undertaking; one that mandates us to ask: How can we make the General Assembly stronger, more relevant, and more impactful vis a vis those it is intended to serve?
“Today, we must have both the commitment and the courage to consider and agree solutions that transcend the “business as usual ” approach, considering that the challenges before us hardly qualify to be considered either routine or normal.
“As we set our sights on commencing, in earnest, the preparations for the Summit of the Future next September, what can the General Assembly do to revitalize itself now and for the future?”
Francis said that in these pursuits, the UNGA has firm ground on which to build and that during the previous session, the Ad Hoc Working Group adopted the first ever biennialized resolution on General Assembly revitalization.
Francis said one result of this resolution was a voluntary pledge to limit side events during the General Debate, “a pledge that, I am pleased to announce, has already garnered the support of 24 member states.
“I encourage more member states and UN entities to join in support of this much-needed initiative.”
Francis said another practical outcome was the strengthening of the Office of the PGA through financing and staffing initiatives.
“For the effective functioning of the OPGA, it is critical that additional regular budget resources be provided – and I appeal to the Chairs of both the Fifth Committee and the ACABQ to ensure that the relevant proposals, in that regard, are given favourable consideration,” Francis said, adding “going forward, we have much more to accomplish.
He said it would be crucial that the Ad Hoc Working Group advances its work and he has since appointed new co-chairs to further build on the solid foundation laid down by their predecessors.
“In this connection, I should like to thank Her Excellency Menissa Rambally, Permanent Representative of St. Lucia, and His Excellency Cornel Feruţă, Permanent Representative of Romania, for accepting this weighty responsibility.
“I trust that member states will extend their full support to the co-chairs as they steer deliberations on the role and authority of the General Assembly, and its working methods, in this session.”
Francis said he would continue the tradition of convening informal morning dialogues to stimulate creative insights and productive exchanges between and among member states, UN entities and other invited stakeholders – as we continue to ponder solutions, real solutions, to today’s complex global challenges.
“For the 78th Session, I have “dubbed” these informal encounters Gayap Dialogues – the word gayap being drawn from the Indigenous Carib expression in Trinidad and Tobago meaning “many hands make light work.”
But Francis said, like any well-run institution with an eye to longevity, theUNGA must adapt itself to the times in order to stay relevant, credible and authoritative.
“Let us therefore use this session to generate fresh, innovative ideas and strategies to better position and empower the General Assembly to deliver for peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability, and to implement what has already been agreed,” he said, adding”by revitalizing the General Assembly, we are acting to strengthen our multilateral system as a whole”.
